BOSTON – Senator Katherine Clark partnered with local chambers of commerce and Stoneham Representatives Jason Lewis and James Dwyer to host the second in a series of small business forums at the Montvale Plaza in Stoneham. This forum was focused on savings for small businesses through health care pooling.

 “Skyrocketing health care costs remains one of the biggest threats to local businesses,” said Senator Clark. “This was a great opportunity to bring members of our local business community together as we work to lower premiums and overall health care costs for our small business community.”

The legislature passed the law last year that will allow small businesses to pool together to access lower health care rates. As the new law is set to take effect, this forum aimed to provide local owners with the tools and resources on how to achieve cost savings through health care pools.

On average, small businesses pay about 18% more than large firms for similar health insurance policies. As a result of these costs, many small business owners are becoming increasingly threatened as they struggle to stay afloat in an already difficult economic environment. Under new regulations businesses can join together in larger groups to help negotiate lower premiums. 

Featured speakers at the event included the President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts Jon Hurst and Legislative Counsel for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance Margaret Parker.